Telemeter



-Nov. 25, 1941. w GRQQT ETAL 2,264,076

TELEMETER Filed Sept. 22, 1939 Robert W. Gr-oot, Lawrence F? l-lemphill,

Their Atter-ney Patented Nov. 25, 1941 TEIEMETEB Robert W. Groot and Lawrence F. Hemphill, Fort Wayne, lnd., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation oi New York Application September 22, 1939, Serial No. 298,087

lClaim.

Our invention relates to telemeterlng and the transmission of rotary motion.

It is an object of our invention to provide an improved, simple, rusged method and apparatus for producing rotary motion especially doing so with a relatively large number oi possible intermediate steps or positions oi rest.

It is also an object oi our invention to provide a'simpliiled easily manufactured commutator.

Other and iurther objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In accordance with our invention in its preierred iorm we utilize an arrangement changing electrical connections for transmitting rotary motion irom a transmitting point to a receiving point. At the receiver we provide an element similar to an electric motor with a two-pole rotor and a stator having more than a single pair oi poles. Between the transmitting and receivin: P ints we provide a plurality of control wires equaling the number oi poles at the receiver stator. At the transmitting point we provide a current source and a commutator arranged in such a manner as to vary the electrical connections oi the control wires to the receiver stator poles and provide a greater number oi positions oi rest for the rotor than there are stator poles in the receiver.

Our invention will be understood more readily from the iollowing detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing and those features oi the invention which are believed to be novel and patentable will be pointed out. Certain ieatures oi the invention disclosed herein but not claimed in the present application are claimed in our copending divisional application, Serial No. 405,470, illed August 5, 1941. In the drawing Figure l is an electrical circuit diagram including a schematic representation oi elements in a rotary motion transmitting system iorming one embodiment oi our invention. Figure 2 is an end view oi a modified iorm oi commutator which may be employed in a system oi the type illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side view partially in cross-section of the apparatus of Figure 2, represented as being cut by a vertical center plane 8-4, and Figure 4 is a perspective view oi one oi the commutator bar elements or shells oi the commutator shown in Figures 2 and 3. Like reierence characters are utilized throughout the drawing to designate like parts.

The system illustrated in Figure 1 comprises an energizing current source II, a transmitter in the iorm oi a commutator II, a receiver ll,

and a speed reduction gear I. The current source ll may be either alternating-current or direct-current, but is preferably a direct current source ii a permanently magnetized rotor is to be utilized in the receiver. It will be assumed that a rotatable element such as a shait. control knob, or instrument pointer, the rotation oi which is to be reproduced, is connected to the commutator l2 and that the element which is to be rotated in response to the transmitter is connected to the transmission gearing l4. Such an element may take the form of a telemeter-recelver indicating pointer, a swiveling vane or plate ii. of a throttle valve, or some other element adapted to be rotated.

The transmitter commutator consists oi a plurality oi groups oi cross-connected commutator bars or segments, the number oi bars in such groups being equal to the number oi stator poles in the receiver. For example, in the arrangement shown in Figure 1 there are four pairs of commutator bars numbered I to 4, consecutively. The diametrically opposite commutator bars of each pair which are numbered alike are electrically connected. The several pairs oi bars, however, are insulated from each other. For supplying current to the commutator II a pair oi brushes l6 and I1 is provided. The angular width of the brushes is made less than that oi the commutator bars and angular spacin between the brushes IO and i1 is made halt the angular spacing between cross-connected commutator bars. In this case, the angular spacing between brushes is degrees since the crossconnected bars are diametrically opposite each other in the commutator. Four control wires II, 1!, ll and II are provided, one for each oi the pairs oi commutator bars, and each oi the control wires is connected to a diiierent one oi the pairs oi commutator bars. I

The receiver includes a stationary member having a plurality oi poles and may. ii desired, consist oi a stator oi a multi-polar motor. Only the poles II, 22, 2s and N oi the receiver stator are shown and it will be understood that suitable magnetic return yokes are provided. The poles ii to 24, inclusive, carry the exciting windings II to 28, respectively. The windings are connected in series such that a current flowing continuously through the series circuit would tend to magnetize all the poles with the same polarity. The control wires ll-Ii, inclusive, are connected to the Junction points between the stator windings 28-, inclusive.

The rotor oi the receiver it, however, is provided with fewer poles than the stator, forexample, with half as many poles, and in the case illustrated, a two-pole rotor 29 is provided. The rotor 29 may be magnetized in any manner giving it adequate magnetic strength. However, for the sake of maximum simplicity and reliability, we prefer to employ a rotor in the form of a transversely magnetized cylindrical permanent magnet composed of high-coercive-force perma nent magnet material. The material or which the rotor 20 is composed may have a composition, for example, of approximately 20% nickel, 12% aluminum, cobalt, and 63% iron. I

For the purpose of increasing the number of steps which may be provided in the rotation of the valve plate I, the speed reduction gearing l4 may be employed. As will be explained herematter, the use of a four-pole stator, in itself, provides eight steps or positions of rest of the rotor 29. By employing a gearing having a speed reduction of approximately 5 to 1, as shown, forty possible positions of rest of the valve plate I! are provided. In such applications as the remote control of throttle valve positions inrearengine automotive vehicles, it has been found that from 16 to 32 steps or positions of rest are both desirable and satisfactory.

The manner of operation of the rotary motion transmitting system will be apparent from a consideration of its circuit diagram. when the commutator I2 is in the position shown, with respect to the brushes l8 and H, the brushes each bridge a pair of commutator segments. Current will flow from the brush it through the segment I, the conductor ll, the stator field winding 2!, back through the conductor I, the segment 2, and the brush II to the current source ll. Similarly a parallel circuit will be formed from the brush l6 through the segment 4, the cross con-* nection 30, the opposite segment 4, the conductor 2i, the stator field winding 21, the conductor 20, the segment 3 and the brush ll back to the current source ll, owing to the fact that the brushes I6 and I1 each bridge a pair of commutator segments. The stator field windings 2O and 28 will be shunted out and no field current will flow in'them. The currents flowing in the windings 25 and 21 will produce flux in the same direction through the poles with respect to the diameter of the rotor. That is, the pole pieces 2| and 23 will be oppositely polarized so as to draw therotor 21 in the position shown with the rotor poles along a vertical line. The line of polarization of the rotor is represented by the center line I l.

If the brushes I! and I! are rotated 22 degrees counterclockwise, which is one half bar width, or if the brushes are kept stationary and the commutator i2 is rotated the same, distance in the clockwise direction, new electrical constable positions of rest. With the speed reduc-' tion gearing l4 the number of definite positions may be multiplied in accordance with the ratio of reduction.

For the sake of increased ruggedness and durability, the commutator l2 may be made with the cross-connected bars or segments of the cross" connections integral, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3a In the arrangement of Figures 2 and 3, however, each group of cross-connected commutator bars is shown as consisting of four bars, instead of-only a pair of bars. Each such group may consist of a shell of copper or other suitable conducting material, as illustrated in Figure 4,

comprising a yoke portion 4| providing cross connections, and wing portions 42 serving as the commutator bars or segments. In the arrangement illustrated four such shells are provided and they are mounted upon a spindle or collar 43 (Fig. 3) with the wing portions 42 interleaved. The yoke portions H are provided with openings 44 which may be pressed onto an insulating cylinder or sleeve 45 secured to the supporting spindle or collar 42. Insulating washers 46 are placed between the successive yoke portions 4| and'at the ends in order to insulate the commutator shells from one another. Since the yoke portions 4| are axially stacked, it will be understood that the wing portions 42 of the successive shells are preferably stepped in length. The shells may be secured to the collar-'43 in any desired manner as by means of a washer 41 and rivets 4|, or it desired, a molded spindle including insulating material 45 and 45 may be provided with the yoke portions 4i molded in place as inserts. v

In order that a dead position may be provided in which the current source ii is disconnected and consumption of electrical energy, when not needed, is prevented, an additional commutator segment 48 may be provided which is not connected to any of the control wires l4-2l, inclu- 'sive, but is interposed between two of the active segments 50 and M (Fig. 2). If the dead segment 49 is provided, it will be understood that 'mutator bars. and accordingly, there is no necessity whatever for undercutting commutator insulating segments. Furthermore, the possibiland the poles 23' and 24 to be polarized with the opposite polarity from the poles 2| and 22. 7 Consequently the line of magnetization of the stator will be shifted 45 degrees tothe right repre-- sented by the center line 22 and therotor 29 will take up a new position with its magnetic ity of short-circuiting dust or chips settling in grooves between commutator bars is practically eliminated.

We have herein shown and particularly described certain embodiments of our invention and certain methodsv of operation embraced therein for the purpose of explaining its principle and showing its application but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible and axis shifted 45 degrees, or of a revolution. we aim,'therefore, to cover all such modificaamen tionsandvariationsasi'ail withinthesoopeoi our invention which is deiined in the appended claim.

What we claim as-new anddesire to secure by Letters Pstent oi the United States is:

Apparatus for producing rotation comprising I a .pair oi brushes. a commutator having a pinrality 01' groups of cross-connected Emerita. each segment being greater in width than the brushes. the commutator and bruahes being relatively movable, a plurality oi control wires equallingthenumberotgroupsoieommutator 3 segmentaa receiver motor element comprising a stator and a transversely magnetized high coercive ioroe cylindrical rotor. the stator having a plurality oi poles equalling the number or control muchpoleearryingafleldvwindingall oitheiieldwindingsbeingwoundinalikeman- ,ner connected in series at- Junction points each conneetedtooneoilaideontrolwmsaidrotor having te'wer poles than said stator.

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